Rendering of AvalonBay development planned for the former site of the University Medical Center of Princeton. (Rendering by Tangram 3DS) Submitted

PRINCETON — Saying it was better than the previous effort, the town’s planning board approved AvalonBay’s plan to build a 280-unit residential complex at the former hospital site tonight in an 8-1 vote.

“I don’t love everything about it, but I think that you really did meet us halfway and I’m pleased to be part of the approval of this application,” board member Gail Ullman said.

It’s been a long journey for the town, its residents and the developer, who submitted the first plan to redevelop for the former University Medical Center on Witherspoon Street more than a year ago. Soundly rejected last December, the site plan was too large and didn’t fit into the surrounding community, planning board members said at the time.

But this new plan, which came to the fore after AvalonBay sued the town earlier this year, included some improvements sought by critics, planning board members said tonight.

“Could there be a better fit? I suppose there could be, but I think the process for this most recent application shows we are getting a better fit...,” board member Marvin Reed said.

Originally dubbed a “megastructure” by critics last year, the company returned to the town with its second plan in May, spreading the proposed 280 units over five different buildings, including three buildings of four townhouse units each. The plan still includes 56 affordable housing units, none of which are in the townhouses though. Of those affordable units, 50 percent would be allocated for moderate-income families, 37 percent for low-income and 13 percent for families with very low incomes.

Company officials said they also listened to concerns from residents who said the structure didn’t fit into the surrounding community.

Representatives from the company said last night during the meeting that this plan was a very different one from the last and that modifications continued even after is formal submission.

But some residents have said at previous meetings that those changes were not enough — and that the plan is an improvement, but only compared to the first.

Last week, the organized group that led the cry against the developer’s plan suddenly announced their withdrawal of formal opposition against the project.

Mounting legal fees forced Princeton Citizens for Sustainable Neighborhoods to abandon its 17-month fight against AvalonBay, the groups’ trustees said in an e-mail to supporters last weekend.

They claim their fees were nearly $100,000 and despite $50,000 in donations, the group’s trustees “continue to carry a significant legal financial responsibility for full payment of debts.”

The group also said in the e-mail that it has secured several important commitments from AvalonBay, including a low-income housing component within the affordable housing allotment for the project, and a $70,000 contribution to the Princeton Arts Council for the acquisition and placement of public art throughout the AvalonBay development.

The approval of the application could see current litigation between the town and developer dismissed from court, should a third party appeal not arise, and the developer accept all of the conditions recommended by the board, board attorney Gerry Muller said.

Kasuba told the board last night before the decision that the developer had no issues with any of its conditions.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct details of changes AvalonBay made to the plan.